By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rick Pitino landed in Greece on Friday and discussed his immediate plans for the Greek national team. After consulting with his assistants and watching Greek league games, he will name the players invited for the training camp ahead of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria, Canada.
“I spoke with Spanoulis before I left and during the year, but I have not spoken to him recently,” he noted regarding the possibility of calling up Olympiacos leader Vassilis Spanoulis, “I will get together with him, probably in the next week, sit down with him and talk with him.”
Spanoulis, 38, last played for the Greek national team back in 2015. Other players considered are Tyler Dorsey and Kostas Koufos, as noted by Pitino. However, Giannis and Thanasis Antetokounmpo will not be on his list.
“They are a little busy right now,” the experienced head coach jokingly mentioned, “I asked them to forget about playing for Milwaukee and just come over here right now.”
Greece will be heading to Canada to face the hosts and China in the preliminary round. The other teams gunning for the lone Olympic Games berth out of Victoria are the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Uruguay. The tournament is planned to take place between June 29 and July 4.